Oxford v Arsenal predictions: Gunners should have few problems progressing

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Oxford United v Arsenal in the FA Cup third round on Monday.

Where to watch

ITV, 8pm Monday

Best bet

Arsenal to win to nil
2pts Evs Betfair, BoyleSports, Paddy Power

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Team news

Oxford
Forwards Kyle Joseph and Marcus Browne are injured but Brandon Fleming could feature after joining on loan from Hull.

Arsenal
Midfielder Emile Smith Rowe could make his first start since September after a groin injury while manager Mikel Arteta is likely to make a host of changes.

Match preview

Arsenal have not won the Premier League since their Invincible season in 2004 and they have finished runners-up only twice since, so there is one question that needs to be answered as they stand five points clear at the top of the table.

Are they going to be going at full throttle in an FA Cup third-round tie at Oxford United?

In terms of Mikel Arteta's likely selection, probably not. But we should still anticipate a strong performance from those fringe members of the squad who look set to be given an opportunity.

There may also be a chance for Emile Smith Rowe, the midfielder who showed so much promise before being floored by a groin injury in September, to stake his claim for a regular start with so many massive games on the horizon.

This game has all the ingredients that a TV producer who is up for the cup loves.

We have the team at the top of the Premier League facing lower-league opposition on the road. The Gunners were the champions when they headed to League Two Wrexham in 1992 and they lost then. So who knows, right?

Well, the problem is that there has been little from Oxford in the last few weeks to suggest that they can pull off a shock and manager Karl Robinson must be cursing his luck that his charges are not in better shape.

Firstly, defensive confidence will not be high after one clean sheet in their last 11 home matches but there are also great concerns at the other end, which could point the way to a profitable bet in this encounter.

Oxford have failed to score in three of their last four games and they have found the net more than once in just eight of their 28 outings this season. And, obviously, even an Arsenal second string are an opposition upgrade.

Robinson just hasn't had the striking resources. Kyle Joseph and Marcus Browne are injured, Sam Baldock hasn't featured all season and Matty Taylor has found it hard to hit the heights he scaled in the last couple of seasons.

Supporting forwards Tyler Goodrham and Yanic Wildschut have not been very productive and it is difficult to see where the threat may come from.

So Arsenal may not have to be that good to get the job done and we should have faith that they can keep a clean sheet, which means the offer of evens that Arteta's side win without conceding looks generous.

Key stat

Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in five of their last eight matches.

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